The Rough Riders

Theodore Roosevelt

Mar 2012 · Courier Corporation

About this ebook

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Theodore Roosevelt resigned his post as assistant secretary of the navy to recruit the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. The legendary Rough Riders—an unlikely combination of cowboys, frontiersmen, Native Americans, African-Americans, and Ivy League alumni—trained in Texas before shipping off to Cuba. The regiment met their enemy in the tropical summer heat, fighting rain, mud, and malaria as well as the Spanish Army. Their battles climaxed with the assault on San Juan Hill, where Colonel Roosevelt rallied his troops to charge through a hail of gunfire to victory.
From Roosevelt's own pocket diary comes this gripping account of the Rough Riders' heroism. Published to instant acclaim in 1899, the year after the regiment's triumphant return from Cuba, it solidified the author's popularity and helped pave his way to the White House. A revealing personal memoir as well as a compelling historical narrative, it offers spirited, informative, and essential reading for every lover of true-life adventures.

About the author

Periodically throughout his extraordinary career, Theodore Roosevelt turned to the writing of history. Energetic about everything he did, he imbued his writing with verve and a strong sense of drama that continues to attract readers today. Born in New York City and educated at Harvard University, he immersed himself in public affairs long before he became President of the United States. A man of many talents, he was, among other things, police commissioner, mayoral candidate, rancher, hunter, explorer, soldier, and governor. His strong sense of history probably influenced his actions more times than not, and certainly he brought to the White House in 1901 an awareness of how much the past conditions the present and informs the future. Roosevelt made history, influenced history, and wrote history.